Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN)

Commitment by

Illinois Community College Sustainability Network

In 2010, The Illinois Community College Sustainability Network (ICCSN), a coalition of all 48 Illinois community colleges, committed to fostering market transformation of the green economy by expanding from six pilot sustainability centers to 12 model centers, as well as adding three new centers focused on green jobs. Through these centers, ICCSN will help residents and businesses learn how to incorporate green methods and technology. ICCSN colleges will use these centers to reach into their communities and network together to create economies of scale for market transformation.

Tabs

Commitment

Launched

Est. Duration

Estimated Total Value

Region

Northern America

Countries

United States

Commitment by

Illinois Community College Sustainability Network

Partner(s) of the Commitment Maker(s)

The Greenforce Initiative: Advancing Green Careers

Details

The Illinois Community College Sustainability Network (ICCSN) has hired core staff to assist community colleges with developing and implementing their sustainability centers and programs. To date, ICCSN has selected 12 college campuses throughout the state to host physical sustainability centers and three campuses to host green economy centers. The following year, the ICCSN will increase sustainability centers from 12 to 20 and green economy centers from three to five. Within three years, ICCSN intends that all 48 colleges will have created either a virtual center on their website or a physical center on campus - or both.
ICCSN will create a new website to facilitate discussions and information sharing as well as to provide the colleges, businesses and communities a common resource for information on sustainability, the green economy and green events, classes, workshops, etc. around the state.
ICCSN will host meetings throughout the state to encourage information sharing amongst colleges, and will hold monthly meetings for all colleges that have been selected to have a sustainability center this year. These meetings will ensure proper protocols are being followed and the appropriate standards will be set. In addition, these meetings promote collaboration 'college to college', 'network to college' and 'college to network'. The ICCSN is lead by five colleges and their presidents through an intergovernmental agreement; the College of Lake County is the administrative unit for the Network.
The ICCSN Executive Director and several Presidents of the Steering Committee have begun efforts in Washington D.C. to identify funding opportunities. With the aid of a lobbyist, the ICCSN will continue to seek federal and state funding. The ICCSN plans to form corporate partnerships and work with major utility companies in Illinois to secure additional funds for the full deployment of ICCSN. The ICCSN will secure funding through other opportunities as they arise.

Background

The need for the ICCSN was established when several community colleges began working independently to create sustainability centers, green economy training programs and green courses. This typical 'silo' model of program development slows the proliferation of change. The ICCSN was formed to use a collaborative model to create these consistent education and training programs. In addition, community colleges are uniquely positioned to advance sustainability because the 48 colleges in Illinois cover the entire state and can reach every community. The network is dedicated to providing training and expertise to enable communities and businesses across the state to engage in the new energy economy. Initial funding has been awarded to ICCSN this year and has been provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Partnership Opportunities

Resources Sought
Resources Offered:
Media/Marketing Opporunities
Best Practice Information
Other: At this point, the resources ICCSN can offer would inlcude the framework for designing the organization, deployment plan and other information relating to the start-up of an organization such as this.

Progress Reports

March 2012
The Illinois Community College Sustainability Network has successfully created a number of sustainability centers throughout Illinois, as well as developed programs funded by the state and federal governments. These programs include a three year Department Of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant in which they will work with 17 colleges to create 32 online hybrid associate degree and certificate programs to prepare students for careers in the green economy; a development program that gives faculty the tools needed to modify their existing curricula to incorporate green economy and sustainability content into multiple disciplines; an energy training program where college faculty and staff can participate in statewide energy trainings in order to effectively promote energy efficiency and make changes on campus; an energy equipment program in which colleges are upgrading facilities to achieve a 3-5% reduction in gas and electricity usage; an Equipment Loan Program that gives contractors the option of borrowing new equipment from community colleges to learn and train others on before making a large investment.